Anchorage· Barbuda· Leeward Islands
Gravenor Bay Anchorage
17° 32.9′ N · 61° 45.2′ W · approximate
A reef-sheltered bay stretching east from Coco Point to Spanish Point, where shallow turquoise water lies inside a barrier of coral. It is a favoured yacht anchorage and snorkel spot, and is good for wing-foiling.
Practical
Coordinate approx: placed mid-bay about 550 m south of the shore (OpenStreetMap coastline near N17 33.2), inside the reef; Wikipedia's centroid for the bay is N17 33.0 W061 45.0. Pilotage from the Antigua & Barbuda Marine Guide: there are reefs approaching from Coco Point and Palaster Reef to the east, but you can navigate inshore of Palaster Reef. Go with a spotter in bright sun. The reef entrance is easy to spot when close, with 9 ft at the entrance and 7-8 ft inside, shoaling rapidly to 5 ft. Round up once inside and drop the hook. Boats drawing 5 ft or less, with a good reef pilot and light, can carry 5 ft all the way east to Spanish Point. Sand about 2 m (6-7 ft) with good holding and scattered small reefs, so deeper drafts need caution (noforeignland). Best in a northerly wind; choppy in south or east wind; good protection from a western swell. A 2020 cruiser anchored in about 7.5 ft behind large reefs and touched near a 6.5 ft keel when the water shoaled in a calm. The salt pond behind the bay is where Barbudans hand-harvest pink sea salt in very dry spells. Gravenor Landing is a popular local weekend camping spot.
Best for
Calm-water reef anchorage for shallow drafts and foilers
Season
Best in N-NE winds; choppy in S or E winds